Last week was prologue week as I spent the week writing two prologues: one for Dragon Disciples: Resurrection and the other for book two; Dragon Disciples: Diaspora. Today I am going to share the one for Resurrection. In this prologue I introduce the dragons and how they came to be on Earth at such an important time in Earth’s history.
Tatsu and Dryas stood with their huge heads bowed before their fiery master, Satan. Satan’s anger weighed heavy on the dragon pair. Tatsu hated being in this position and was sure when Satan finished, he would find a way to make Dryas pay. If her sister, Myrria and the Creator had not interfered, he would now be in control of Ramajadin, or rather his master would be.
“Tatsu, you have failed me,” Satan roared, setting fire to straw in the corner of the cave.
Dryas trembled as Tatsu cleared his throat, releasing a small amount of acid on the floor. “Master, it was Dryas’s fault. Her sister, Myrria tricked her, misled Dryas…”
Another burst of flame landed at Tatsu’s feet. “I don’t care! All that matters is that you failed!” The dark demon rose from his icy throne. Chains rattled as his midnight dogs pulled at them. Satan strode to the ten-foot dragon and glared into the dragon’s eyes. “I am feeling magnanimous today, so I will give you another chance. Do Not Fail Me, for the will be no third chances.”
“Thank you Master,” Tatsu answered.
“Do not thank me. Tomorrow, I will transfer you to another world, Earth; a small, inconsequential world in need of some direction.”
Tatsu perked up. “Small world. That should be easy to subdue.”
Satan stepped away from the jade-colored dragon and stood in front of Dryas while still glaring at Tatsu. “Do not be so confident. You will not be the only one working on this world. The Creator…” Satan grimaced. “has already sent one to teach and convert humans and dragons alike. He will not be so easy to defeat, especially if the Creator sends some of His own dragons.” His gaze shifted to Dryas. “I am sure Myrria, Alorn and Cielo will be the ones appointed to fulfill this mission. And you have already proved they are difficult foes. So, no this will not be easy.”
Satan slowly faded into a cloud of black and red smoke. “Do Not Fail Me!” echoed off the stone walls of the cave.
Tatsu and Dryas materialized on Earth. The year 30 A.D., the place Mount Gerizim in Samaria Israel. The mission; to prevent, enslave and eliminate a new group known as Yeshua followers.
*****
Myrria, the purple dragon glided into the cave she shared with her mate, Alorn and Cielo, her mother. Their last mission for the Creator continued to be successful.
As Myrria landed, Alorn, the red dragon greeted her, “The Creator is here. It’s time.”
Myrria nodded and followed Alorn into the cave. Alorn, Myrria and Cielo bowed before the Creator.
“My beloved children, you have done well. The people of Ramajadin are firmly planted in their faith.”
“Thank you, Mighty Creator,” Myrria said.
“There is another world that needs your unique talents as my messenger dragons to guide them. This mission will be more complex than Ramajadin. For besides battling Tatsu and Dryas, you will be building a new group to continue My Son, Yeshua’s work on Earth.
“We are ready and able, Oh Glorious One,” Alorn said.
“This will be more difficult than you have encountered before.”
“How so Holy One,” Cielo asked.
“Cielo, you will search for other dragons that have been persecuted and driven into hiding by the unknowing and unbelieving. For they will be necessary for the continuation of Myrria and Alorn’s work,” the Creator answered.
Cielo bowed her great silver-colored head. “And what of Alorn and I?” Myrria asked.
“My beloved Son is already on Earth planting the seeds. You will arrive on Earth three days before, like the dragons, my Son will be persecuted and put to death. Starting with that you will have a threefold mission. First to rescue two Samaritan young people from their Roman persecutors. Once you succeed the second part of the mission starts as the dragons along with Yeshua’s disciples will convert and train them to fulfill an ancient prophecy and establish the Dragon Disciples. And the third, eventually this group will be tasked with spreading and protecting God’s word. One more thing, you will encounter many things that are different from what you know, but I am sure that it will not present a great challenge to you.”
The three dragons bowed. “Let Your will be done,” Myrria responded.
The Creator faded into a gentle amethyst colored mist. “I am sure you will not disappoint. I will be with you always.”
Myrria, Alorn and Cielo materialized on Earth. The year 33 A.D., the place the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem, Israel. The mission to rescue two Samaritan children, Chana and Naftili and to establish the Dragon Disciples, tasked to protect and spread the Word of God.
This is an excerpt from Dragon Disciples: Resurrection. Read the full story of Chana, Myrria and Tatsu in Dragon Disciples: Resurrection to be published by Pandora’s Order in the near future.
Desireé Duffy, Founder of The BookFest, says, “I am delighted to announce Christina Weigand as the winner of a Second Place in Fiction > Fantasy – Historical for Dragon Disciples: Resurrection at The BookFest Awards. This year’s competition was exceptional, and Christina Weigand should be very proud of this outstanding accomplishment.”
My interview with Don McCauley will be rebroadcast on Wednesday, April 10, all day. Visit https://wnbnetworkwest.com/
Scroll down to Dragon Disciples: Resurrection click on the link to hear Don and I talk about the book and writing and a little bit of life.
While still a slave, suffering endless tortures, Chana witnesses the crucifixion of her beloved Yeshua. Throughout her time in slavery she encountered Yeshua several times and witnessed a couple of His miracles. He provided her with hope in the face of her tormenters.
Chana is sent out by her cruel mistress, Fabia. to silence the Jewish crowds in Jerusalem for the Passover. (I don’t know how Fabia expects a mute slave girl to do that.) When Chana steps through the gates of the villa she is swept up in the crowds following the convicted Yeshua.
After stopping in the kitchen to check on Fabia’s breakfast, Chana scampered to the front gate and stepped through. People line the street shouting, “Crucify Him!”
She pushed herself to the front of the crowd. Two centurions on horseback led a procession. Chana recognized Leonidas, the centurion whose servant Yeshua healed. She backed up as the centurions passed her, creating a path through the crowd.
Sobbing drowned out the screaming. Chana turned her head to find the source. Stumbling behind the centurions, a man caried a heavy cross like the ones to crucify criminals. She scrambled to get away as the crowd pushed her closer to the sweaty, blood-covered man. He looked into her eyes as she knelt on the ground beside Him. Realization struck her like the stone that crippled her abba. The man smiled despite the pain and sorrow she saw in His eyes. Yeshua. Chana reached out and touched his blood-stained cheek. With her other hand, she wiped blood from His face before a centurion on foot pulled her to her feet and out of the path.
Little does Chana know this is also the beginning of her personal crucifixion and resurrection as she witnesses Yeshua’s cruel crucifixion. Although she will not witness the resurrection, her life will drastically change because of it.
Chana’s tears came like a flood as she watched Mary approach the cross. One of Yeshua’s followers supported Mary as she stood there. Chana fought the urge to run to Mary. She envied the woman’s calm demeanor that concealed a pain greater than can be imagined.
The nightmare needed to end. Chana needed to wake up and find it was naught but a dream. Why didn’t anyone stop this madness?
Yeshua cried out. One of the centurions offered him something to drink. Yeshua refused to drink. Chana wondered what it was, maybe sour wine. It seemed like something these cruel tormentors would try.
Then she saw Leonidas, standing off to the side, alone. His head turned and looked away from the cross. Tears shone on the man’s face which was frozen in a mask of fear and anger. He started to walk down the hill when Acanthus yelled, “Leonidas, where do you think you’re going?”
“I can’t watch this anymore.” Leonidas directed people off the hill.
“Leonidas, I order you to stay until I say you can leave,” Acanthus said.
Leonidas returned to his post, but refused to look at the dying man.
While on the subject of crucifixion and resurrection I realized on Easter Sunday that Dragon Disciples: Resurrection is going through a crucifixion and resurrection in a sense. I will not get into the details, as I have already shared the circumstances. After months of issues and a quasi release, the old publisher is no longer in the picture and that part of the journey has been crucified. Now with a new publisher, Pandora’s Order, there is a resurrection of Dragon Disciples: Resurrection.
Tatsu’s stomach rumbled as he spied the lone goat. It had been days since the jade colored tanniym had eaten. His large wings drooped, and his scales had lost their luster. Satan had ordered him to stay hidden until the right time. Disobeying his master was out of the question even if it limited his ability to hunt. A little hunger was nothing compared to being demoted or forever tormented in Satan’s fiery furnaces. He shook his large head and using his serpentine tail for guidance he dove toward a nearby shed. His master wouldn’t know if he cooked this lone goat and set fire to the shed. No one would notice. Tatsu roared and a blast of white-hot lightning shot from his mouth, obliterating the thatched roof of a shed; the goat cooked to perfection. He swooped down and devoured it in one large bite. His stomach rumbled, having only satisfied his hunger a little. He flew toward the caves in the mountains above Galilee. The need to find more food grew as the hatching of Dryas’s eggs approached. The tanniym would be hungry.
After Dryas botched the job back home on Ramajadin, and he took the blame to protect his mate, Satan punished him with this assignment on Earth. From what the tanniym observed, the people of this planet displayed tendencies even more primitive than the races from their home. He shook his head and roared. This backward planet with its dry desert and scraggly foliage did little to ease his desire to return to his home. Compared to the beings of his world, these people had a long way to go before they could ever challenge him. Only a chosen few could communicate with tanniym, and even they seemed willfully in denial of the tanniym existence. Evidence of their feeble minds. Enslaving Earth for Satan would be much easier than enslaving Ramajadin. He roared again as he flew in front of the sun. The humans looked to the sky and ran into their small houses like mice scurrying for cover.
Coming to a store near you, January 1, 2024 Dragon Disciples: Resurrection.
Myrria and Alorn are pleased to announce the publication of my newest book Dragon Disciples: Resurrection, on a date yet to be determined, but before Christmas 2023.
When Dragons come to Earth during the ministry of Yeshua to build the Dragon Disciples to protect and spread HaShem’s Word a young Samaritan woman defies the conventions of her societies to find her voice and faith and become the leader of the the Dragon Disciples.
Again I stress this is not the cover, but only a suggestion from me. When the cover is ready I will certainly share with you.
Keep your eyes and ears open for further announcements. I will share updates with you as time moves ahead.
One more thing you will note the title is changed to Dragon Disciples: Resurrection. That change has put me in a pickle for the next book in the series, but more to that at a later date.
First an apology for not sharing anything the last few weeks. There has been a lot going on with a trip to Washington state and preparing for a vacation which we leave for next week.
That is part of the explanation for why won’t be posting for a couple of weeks. The rest: Tonight is the start my year long continuing faith journey. I signed up to become a Fellow with the C.S. Lewis Institute. To quote the program flier: The program prepares each Fellow to live a powerful, transformed life in their church, their community and their workplace.
Although I don’t plan to stop writing or working to get my books to publication they will be walking beside this faith journey. My writing has always been a journey with God. My hopes above and beyond the programs goal is to bring my writing to a stronger place with God as my partner.
A request for you my readers: If you are praying people, Would you pray for me throughout the year as I confront the challenges that this program will place on me. If not praying people please send your good wishes and support.
After a short break I will return in a few weeks to update you and give you new peeks on the progress of Dragon Disciples: Resurrection.
Today I want to introduce two secondary although not minor characters: Naftili, Chana’s younger brother and Yeshua.
We don’t see a lot of Naftili until the second half of the book because it isn’t his story. But when we do meet him, Tatsu, the dragon of Satan is trying to recruit Naftili to his cause. Naftili is a confused young man as he faces life after his sister is taken by the Romans, he meets and travels with Yeshua, hearing conflicting messages to what he has been taught his whole life as well as the disdain from the people that were once his comrades.
Yeshua is sprinkled throughout the book. We first encounter Him when Chana meets him at the well along with Photini, the woman Yeshua reveals Himself to. We see Him again when He heals the centurions servant and when He feeds the 5000. Throughout the story He gives Chana and later Naftili faith and hope that one day they will be freed of their trials.
Naftili:
****
Naftili ran through the gate, excitement seeping off him and filling the courtyard. Chana set down her sewing as Abba followed Naftili at a more sedate pace.
“Good you are here. Isaac will be here soon, and dinner is almost ready,” Chana said as she rose from the stool.
“Chana you won’t believe what happened,” a breathless Naftili answered.
Chana scooped a cup of water from the bucket. “Sit and catch your breath.”
It was so like her brother getting excited about something and not be able to calm himself. As soon as his breathing slowed, Chana took the cup and said, “Now tell me what has you so excited.”
“Do you remember the man that came to the village yesterday and spoke in the synagogue.”
Chana nodded.? “How could I forget Yeshua? Photini and I…”
Abba scowled. “Don’t mention that harlot in this house.”
“Yes, Abba,” Chana said as she bowed her head. “Naftili, please continue.”
Naftili stood and paced around the courtyard, hands waving as he talked. “That man, Yeshua came to the sheep cave this morning. The other shepherds wanted Him to leave.”
“Why?” Chana asked. “Last evening the people welcomed Him and listened with rapt attention. Jacob even invited Him and His followers to share a meal.”
“Because He is a Jew,” Abba answered.
“What changed from last night?”
“I don’t know!” Naftili yelled. “What I do know is that He helped us—well He helped our ewe.”
“How did He help the ewe?” Chana asked.
“Let me finish.” Naftili took another sip of water and resumed his pacing. “The ewe was giving birth and having a hard time of it. Yeshua helped deliver the lambs, by calming the ewe and gently extricating each lamb. After all, three were delivered and trying to nurse, the ewe kept pushing the smallest one away. Somehow Yeshua convinced the ewe to care for all three. He picked up the smallest and put it next to the other lambs, looked the ewe in the eye and whispered something I couldn’t hear. The ewe nuzzled the little one and encouraged it to nurse.”
“But that never happens,” Chana said.
Abba shook his head. “In all my years, I’ve never seen the third lamb live.”
“But why would he help? We aren’t Jews.”
“I don’t know. All I do know is that when I needed help, He was there, and He helped,” Abba said as he got a drink of water.
Naftili stopped his pacing and put his hands on his hips. “Can I finish the story now?”
Abba nodded and Naftili resumed his tale. “As we walked home, we saw a crowd gathering by the lake. Yeshua was speaking. I asked Abba if we could listen for a little while.
“Abba said we could, but that we shouldn’t say anything to Jacob.” Naftili stopped and laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Chana said.
“Abba had just finished warning me when I pointed out that Torah Teacher Jacob stood at the edge of the crowd. Right in front of us.”
“Was he really there, listening to Yeshua?”
Abba nodded. “We didn’t need to keep anything from Jacob. So, we joined him and listened to the Jewish teacher.”
“Yes, and Jacob didn’t mind that we were there, either.”
“What did Yeshua say?” Chana asked, hardly able to contain her excitement. She remembered the peace and calm she of yesterday as she talked to Yeshua and wondered if Abba, Naftili, and Jacob felt the same.
“He talked about sharing and finishing our work. He said a lot about the harvest and the sower and the reaper and how they should harvest and rejoice together. And then there was talk about loving your neighbor no matter who they were. That surprised me after the way the shepherds wanted him to leave the cave this morning. Everything my teachers have taught me says that Samaritans were the only people of HaShem. Jews and Romans were to be avoided.”
“But how did you feel.”
“Chana, it was so exciting and confusing. The things he said didn’t agree with the things I’m learning in Torah school. I wanted to stay and hear more, but Abba said we had to come home for dinner. I hope I can find him tomorrow to hear more and ask him about the things he said,” Naftili said.
Abba finished washing his hands. “Naftili there will be no time tomorrow, besides I heard one of His followers saying that they were moving on tomorrow.”
“I need to go after Him. He needs to answer my questions.” Naftili pushed the door open.
Abba set a hand on his arm. “Naftili, you can’t go. He is probably long gone now. He is a Jew so you probably should not be trying to talk with Him.”
“But Abba, Jacob was there, and he wanted to question Yeshua,” Naftili said. “I think we should at least consider what Yeshua had to say.”
“We don’t have time for this, Imma has dinner ready. Tomorrow, I must go into the city to work on the palace building project. I will be gone for a few days so you will have to take our turn tending the flocks.”
“I can help Abba,” Chana said as she set a bowl of grapes on the table.
“Yes, that would be good, as long as Imma doesn’t need you,” Abba said. “Now let’s pray and eat.”
Yeshua:
The gate creaked as Chana swung it open and the dust from the group of men swirled at her feet and bled into the courtyard. Imma would be angry about the dust. Photini bustled behind the men.
“What is all the fuss? Where is everyone going?” Chana asked, as she closed the gate.
Photini stopped. “They are going to Jacob’s Well.”
Chana shook her head in disbelief. “Men are going to the well! Why are they going to the well?”
“There was a man, a Jew, His name was Yeshua, and He asked me for a drink of water,” Photini answered.
Chana stepped back, her hands flying to her chest. “Are you telling me that a Jew asked a Samaritan woman for water?”
Photini nodded. “And that’s not all. He told me the water from the well would not quench my thirst and if I drank of His water, I would never thirst again.”
Chana tilted her head to the side and pursed her lips. “What does that mean? I’ve drank the water from that well all my life.”
“I’m not completely sure what He meant either. But He told me so much more. He knew who I was, about all of my husbands.” She grasped Chana’s hands and leaned forward. “There was so much more. I think this Yeshua is the long-awaited Messiah.”
Chana looked at Photini’s hand resting on hers. At first, she wanted to pull away. This was crazy talk, even for Photini. How could this be? “The Messiah! How do you know? What did He say?”
“When I questioned Him, He told me so.”
“But…”
“Come on, come, and meet Him. There is something about Him, something that draws you to Him. He’s not like Torah teacher Jacob. When Yeshua talks, I want to hear more.” She started to run, dragging Chana with her. “You have to come meet Him.”
Chana glanced at the women staring at her as she ran past them. The disgusted looks on their faces made her lift her shoulders as she strode past.
As they neared the well the men were returning to the village. “What are you women doing here?” Chana hesitated, but Photini pulled her towards Yeshua, who still stood at the well. He smiled at the women as they approached.
“You came back.”
Photini nodded. “I wanted to hear more, and I brought a friend. This is Chana. She lives a little way out of town. She stopped me when I was passing so I brought her along.”
“Welcome, Chana. I am so happy you came,” Yeshua said.
Chana stared at the man. His medium height and build resembled her own and His olive skin was similar to the other men from the village. Dark brown hair and short beard framed His oval face. Despite His normal appearance, Chana felt drawn to the man, mesmerized by the comforting, peaceful luminosity that surrounded Him as He talked to her.
A voice in the back of her mind screamed, “He is a Jew! Stay away from Him.” She took a step away from Him and looked around for the source of the voices. Only the three of them stood there. Several other men stood off in the distance and appeared to be waiting for Yeshua, but they were talking amongst themselves. None of them even glanced in her direction.
A roar bellowed from the hills. Chana quaked as she looked for the source. She clutched her head and fell to her knees. Tears streamed from her eyes as pain assaulted her body.
She felt a hand on her head. The pain receded and the voices stilled. A soft hand grasped hers and helped her to stand. Photini stood beside her rubbing her shoulders. Yeshua held her hands.
“Chana, what is it? What happened?” Photini said.
“It was the voices again. And this time I understood them. Why would they tell me to stay away?”
“They are messengers from Satan, and they warn you about Me. I am from HaShem, and these messengers know one day He will destroy them,” Yeshua answered.
“The voices and the pain. They screamed ‘Stay away.’” She looked at Yeshua and pulled her hands from His. “You are a Jew. Why are you speaking to us? We are Samaritans and women. Your Torah teachers say that we will make you unclean.”
Yeshua dropped His hands to His side. He looked at Chana and Photini. “My sisters, you are all the same in HaShem’s eyes. My Abba loves all equally no matter who you are.”
Chana grasped her head again as the voice screamed, “He lies.” The sky darkened and the pain increased. Her whole body shook.
Yeshua stepped closer and relief from the pain washed over her. She wiped her tears with her veil and sighed. “Who is it? Why does he keep invading my thoughts?”
“It is one working for the Evil One. He wails and tries to find slaves to serve his evil purposes,” Yeshua said.
A calming warmth flowed through her veins. She gazed into His hazel-colored eyes. She only saw love and trust emanating from them, not the anger she felt from the people in the village. For a moment she thought of Isaac and what they shared. But what she saw and felt from Yeshua was so much more. She relaxed and let waves of love and grace flow over her.
“Trust Him. Love Him.” Another voice, gentler, softer flowed with the love and grace from Yeshua. She looked at Yeshua. He smiled a quieter, calmer smile. “My messengers are with you now. You need not fear the Evil One. They will soon be here to watch over you and your brother. HaShem has plans for you.”
Chana nodded.
“Master, you need to eat. Come we must find food,” one of Yeshua’s followers said as he came to stand beside Yeshua.
One of the men from the village rushed up the road towards them. “Teacher, you must come to my home. My wife has prepared a fine meal for you and your followers.”
Yeshua nodded and looked at Photini and Chana. “I must go now, but I will see you soon. Remember I am always with you.”
As He walked away Chana sighed as the waves of Yeshua’s power flowed over her.
